AKIPRESS.COM - Briz-M booster block carrying the Express-AMU1 telecommunications satellite has successfully separated from the Proton-M launch vehicle and reached the suborbital flight trajectory, TASS reported referring to the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos).

"In the coming few minutes the booster block will switch on the engine for bringing the satellite to the designated orbit," he said.

Proton-M lifted off the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan on Thursday, December 25 (21.31 GMT on Wednesday). This was the 18th launch of the Proton carriers from Baikonur this year and the last one until the New Year.

Under plans, the further delivery of the satellite to the designated orbit will be done with the aid of several activations of the Briz-M block engine.

The satellite, Express-AMU1, will be orbiting the Earth on a geostationary orbit, covering Russia, Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. It will stay in operation for fifteen years.